Category Archives: Krumping

Krumping (not Krunk-ing) is often confused with Clowning, but while the two are related by form and origin (and vaguely by style), differences are visible. They share the same basic speed, and a similar movement pattern: a rapid rhythmic bobbling and jerking of the body, as well as the intermittent flex of the spine and thrust-out chest, which may be called “the krump” or a “bobble bounce”. Krumping, however, is a more sinister and aggressive dance form and is intended as an expression of anger or a release of pent-up emotion through violent, exaggerated, and dramatic moves. High variation, individuality, and movement are the foundations of the Krump or bobble bounce. It must be said that the current focal point of the dance as of 2006 and its differentiation from Clowning is becoming centralized around the elimination of sexual or erotic movement, particularly by males (such as twerking, booty popping, freaking, snaking and winding). This is currently considered the taboo when Krumping, and is called “popping cakes” (cakes being the buttocks). It may also be referred to as “poppin bakes”, the difference being due to the gang culture pervasive in California. In a Crip hood, “b” words (words beginning with, or often containing, the letter b) may not be said, or must be altered; and in a Blood hood, “c” words are similarly taboo. So cakes becomes bakes, and boulevard becomes coulevard (pronounced soulevard).

The belief that Krump dancers regularly engage in face-painting is also a misconception: this is a Clown practice, and as Clowning and Krumping have been mixed and misrepresented in their introduction to the public (through music videos of artists such as Missy Elliott), it has been misinterpreted as a regular Krumping practice. Face-painting is a matter of choice and is practiced only occasionally by a small percentage of the Krump community. The confusion may be a result of the movie Rize which documented the founders and other initial practitioners during the infancy of Krump as an art form; thus, the footage was from a time when the Krump kings were actually evolving from Clowners into the Krumpers of today. The Krumpers’ modified use of face paint served as a visual indication of this split. The style and cultural symbolism of this painting (used mostly during the early Krump movement, but now adopted by Clowners) has evolved from the circus clown image into ceremonial indigenous (ie tribal), war, or dance paint. This could signify the development of a third school of a darker or more aggressive nature within Clowning, but still remaining Clown-oriented. In Clowning, there are older Clowners who have styles similar to Krumping but still associate themselves with (and are loyal to) the Clown school of dance.

The root word “Krump” came from the lyrics of a song in the 90s. It is sometimes spelled K.R.U.M.P., which is a backronym for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise, presenting krumping as a faith-based artform. Krumping was created by two dancers: Ceasare “Tight Eyez” Willis and Jo’Artis “Big Mijo” Ratti in South Central, Los Angeles, California during the early 2000s. Clowning is the less aggressive predecessor to krumping and was created in 1992 by Thomas “Tommy the Clown” Johnson in Compton, CA. In the 1990s, Johnson and his dancers, the Hip Hop Clowns, would paint their faces and perform clowning for children at birthday parties or for the general public at other functions as a form of entertainment. In contrast, krumping focuses on highly energetic battles and dramatic movements which Tommy describes as intense, fast-paced, and sharp. CBS news has compared the intensity within krumping to what rockers experience in a mosh pit. “If movement were words, krumping would be a poetry slam.” Krumping was not directly created by Tommy the Clown; however, krumping did grow out of clowning. Ceasare Willis and Jo’Artis Ratti were both originally clown dancers for Johnson but their dancing was considered too “rugged” and “raw” for clowning so they eventually broke away and developed their own style. This style is now known as krumping. Johnson eventually opened a clown dancing academy and started the Battle Zone competition at the Great Western Forum where krump crews and clown crews could come together and battle each other in front of an audience of their peers.

“Expression is a must in krump because krump is expression. You have to let people feel what you’re doing. You can’t just come and get krump and your krump has no purpose.”
Robert “Phoolish” Jones;
Krump Kings

David LaChapelle’s documentary Rize explores the clowning and krumping subculture in Los Angeles. He says of the movement: “What Nirvana was to rock-and-roll in the early ’90s is what these kids are to hip-hop. It’s the alternative to the bling-bling, tie-in-with-a-designer corporate hip-hop thing.”

LaChapelle was first introduced to krump when he was directing Christina Aguilera’s music video “Dirrty”. After deciding to make a documentary about the dance, he started by making a short film titled Krumped. He screened this short at the 2004 Aspen Shortsfest and used the positive reaction from the film to gain more funding for a longer version. This longer version became Rize which was screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and several other film festivals abroad.

Aside from Rize, krumping has appeared in several music videos including Madonna’s “Hung Up”, Missy Elliott’s “I’m Really Hot”, The Black Eyed Peas’ “Hey Mama”, and Chemical Brothers “Galvanize”. The dance has also appeared in the movie Bring It On: All or Nothing, the television series Community, and the reality dance competitions So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew. Russell Ferguson, the winner of the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance, is a krumper. The original web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers also featured krumping in season one during the fifth episode, “The Lettermakers”.

What is Krumping? K.R.U.M.P (Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise) is a dance style with Christian roots/background. It also has connections / links to other dance styles like clowning and bucking.
Krumping usually involves what looks to be physical contact between the dancers. From non participants it can sometimes even look like a fight, however the participants in Krumping understand that Krumping is just a way to release feelings like anger in a positive nonviolent way.

Styles of Krump

Various styles of Krumping include:
â€¢ Goofy: Pioneered by the krump practitioner “Goofy” himself. It is the least aggressive of the krump styles, usually funny and energetic.
â€¢ Beasty: Aggressive, beast-like and powerful. It is similar to bully but more animalistic.
â€¢ Grimy: Dirty, mistreating and “wrong”.
â€¢ Flashy: Using a lot of foot movement and quick sharp, precise and showy moves.
â€¢ Cocky: Stuck up and conceited.
â€¢ Jerky
â€¢ Bully :Aggressive and powerful
â€¢ Tricks: Using a combination of moves
â€¢ Fight: Fake fighting.
â€¢ Fast: Quick, fast and energetic movements